Tag Archives: contract

Fan favourite Lucas is 'where he belongs' after signing new long-term Liverpool deal

By
Gerard Brand

PUBLISHED:

16:45 GMT, 10 April 2013

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UPDATED:

16:49 GMT, 10 April 2013

Liverpool have announced that influential midfielder Lucas Leiva has signed a new long-term contract at the club.

The Brazilian who has made 20 appearances in the Premier League this season, has put pen to paper on a new deal as Brendan Rodgers looks to build a midfield capable of challenging for the top four in the coming years.

The news comes just over two years to the day that the 26-year-old signed another long-term contract with the club, that time being rewarded for his superb form by manager Kenny Dalglish.

Signing in: The midfielder has pledged his future to the club after several impressive seasons

He told the club's website: 'It's another long-term contract that I have signed – but it was the same feeling as when I first came here.

'I am really delighted to have the opportunity to play for this club. It's where I think I belong and where I wanted to stay, so I am very happy and looking forward to a few more years here.

'It was an easy decision because after the long period of my career I have had here, I would like to give the best of my time to this club. It was not a difficult decision to make and I am really looking forward to what will hopefully be a few more years with a lot of success.'

Lucas, who has appeared for Brazil on 20 occasions, joined the Merseyside club from Brazilian side Gremio for a reported 5million in July 2007, making 208 appearances since and slowly becoming a fans favourite after a slow start.

His previous deal was due to run out in the summer of 2015.

The club's managing director Ian Ayre showed his delight with the signing, which warns off any of Europe's top clubs making a move for the midfield maestro.

Ayre told the club's website: 'It's fantastic. He has been such a great servant to the club and I think during the period he went through with his two injuries, he put so much work into it and the club supported him through it.

'He just goes from strength to strength. We said throughout last summer and January, we wanted to keep our best, experienced players, and this is another great example of that.

'The manager has said several times that as well as having a great, young squad, it's important we have experience and it's important we have characters. People like Lucas fit that.

'He'll tell you he's still very young, but in footballing terms he's experienced and a big part of the team.'

Coming of age: After a slow start at the club, the Brazilian has been an influential member of midfield

North London rivals in vile chants threat: Yobs will be ejected from White Hart Lane

By
Sami Mokbel

PUBLISHED:

22:55 GMT, 28 February 2013

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UPDATED:

08:00 GMT, 1 March 2013

Tottenham and Arsenal will issue a warning to supporters intent on using sick chants during this weekend’s north London derby.

Spurs will use Sunday’s programme and their official website to warn fans they will take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to those found singing abusive songs, and fans who are caught doing so will be thrown out of the ground.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been the target of disgusting abuse from Tottenham fans in recent matches.

Slated: Sol Campbell was the victim of abuse by Spurs fans after his switch to Arsenal

Likewise, former Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor has also been at the centre of vile chants from Arsenal fans since his acrimonious exit for Manchester City in 2009 and the club will also post a warning on their website.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are considering inviting Gareth Bale to the negotiating table to discuss improved terms as they seek to persuade him to stay for at least another season.

Bale has signed contract extensions in each of the last two summers and Spurs may try to persuade him to do so again. Bale is waiting to see if Tottenham qualify for the Champions League before making a decision.

Third time lucky Spurs are hoping that Bale will extend his contract once again

Real Madrid will accelerate their efforts to lure Bale if Cristiano Ronaldo fails to sign a new contract. Real will only formalise their interest if Ronaldo indicates he won’t extend a deal that is due to expire in 2015.

Meanwhile, a UEFA security officer has been appointed for Spurs’ Europa League clash against Inter Milan at the San Siro on March 14.

Nine Tottenham fans were injured in attacks ahead of their clash in Lazio in November. And a group of Spurs fans were attacked last week ahead of their match in Lyon.

'I've been here for seven years now and I'm still waiting for my chance but hopefully it can come soon.

'”We're not far from winning the league so hopefully we can do that and then I can get to play in one of the remaining games after that.

'It's down to the gaffer and (goalkeeping coach) Jim Stewart to decide whether that happens or not but I would love an opportunity to show what I can do.'

Rangers manager Ally McCoist is hoping to sign Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell on a pre-contract agreement and also trying to extend Neil Alexander's contract, stating he would send Gallacher on loan if both deals come off.

Gallacher added: 'I'm glad the management have the trust in me to offer me an extended stay and I'm looking to repay them for that.

'There has been a bit of speculation about goalkeepers lately and Rangers are a massive club so you're always going to have that.

'That's something you get used to and accept. You take it as it comes but all I can do is do my best and hope things work in my favour.'

Sources at Stamford Bridge insisted this morning that the talks were ‘positive’ and the club will formalise the fresh talks with a firm offer.

The precise terms of the new deal for Lampard, 34, have yet to be discussed, but the initial meeting with Chelsea has taken place.

Abramovich, who is in Malaga on business, is aware of the fans’ protests against the decision to release the midfielder after 12 years at the club.

Lampard has scored 10 goals in just 17 Barclays Premier League appearances this season after recovering from injury.

Centre of attention: All eyes have been on Lampard's next move as his Chelsea deal winds down

Goal king: Lampard is on a golden run of goals despite Chelsea's difficult season

He is now second in the list of all-time leading scorers at the club and is just five goals from equalling Bobby Tambling’s record of 202 in a Chelsea shirt.

The midfielder has been one of the club's most consistent players this season and supporters have begged Abramovich to give him a new deal.

Chelsea’s owners is becoming increasingly sensitive about his popularity at the Bridge and is determined to put his club back at the top of European football.

That process began when he changed his mind about Ashley Cole and gave England’s left back a new one year extension to his contract.

Lampard is next in line and talks are expected to resume within the next week after Chelsea made their shock move to keep him. A Chelsea spokesman declined to comment this morning.

Green light: Roman Abramovich has now given the thumbs up to a new deal for Lampard

Although Lampard has consistently told Blues supporters he wants to stay in various interviews, the midfielder believed his career at Stamford Bridge would be over in the summer.

Lampard’s future is time sensitive because he already has a number of offers from other clubs around the world.

Paris Saint-Germain, coached by former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, are the latest club to put down a marker for the midfielder.

LA Galaxy, who have offered Lampard a two-and-a-half year deal, are pushing for an answer. The MLS season starts in March, but the player will have commitments with Chelsea until the end of the season and also with England.

Roy Hodgson’s side play a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on May 29 and then travel to Brazil on June 2.

Messi follows example of Xavi and Puyol by committing to Barcelona until 2018

PUBLISHED:

16:27 GMT, 7 February 2013

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UPDATED:

18:17 GMT, 7 February 2013

Lionel Messi has signed his two-year contract extension with Barcelona.

The Argentina superstar put pen to paper on his new deal at the Nou Camp this afternoon and is now tied to the Catalan giants until June 30, 2018.

Messi follows in the footsteps of fellow club stalwarts Xavi and Carles Puyol, both of whom signed their extensions last month.

Pen to paper: The four-time Ballon d'Or winner signed a new deal with Barcelona this afternoon

Job done: Barcelona's president Sandro Rosell shakes hands with the Argentina international after he pledged his future to the Catalan club until 2018

Barca announced in December they had agreed new contracts with the trio.

It's
little wonder Barcelona are keen to tie down Messi's future for as long
as possible – the Argentina international has scored 45 goals in 34
appearances this season so far.

And that comes off the back of an incredible 91 goals during the 2012 calendar year.

Sign on the dotted line: Messi arrives at the Camp Nou Stadium this afternoon to sign a new two-year contract extension with Barcelona, which will see him through until 2018. While Messi may again be surging ahead in the goalscoring charts, he is hardly inspiring many with his choice of jacket.

Lionel Messi arrives at the Camp Nou Stadium to sign his new two-year contract extension

The news was welcomed by Messi's teammate Jordi Alba, who said: 'I can't imagine what Messi will be like in 2018, but it's great news for Barca fans that he's staying.

'He is the best player in the world and as long as nothing happens, he'll be the best ever. We'll try to make him feel as comfortable here as we can.'

Dotty: Messi wore an eye-catching tuxedo to pick up his latest Ballon D'Or award last month

Golden balls: Lionel Messi with his FIFA Ballon D'Or collection. He's won the accolade, for the best player in world football, for the last four years

The former Valencia player added: 'I was once unlucky enough to have to face him as an opponent, but now I'm here I'm delighted to have him as a teammate.

'I have never seen anybody capable of doing the things he can do.'

Messi, 25, came up through the youth ranks at Barca before making his competitive debut against Espanyol in 2004 at the age of 17.

Since then he has established himself as one of the best players in history, breaking numerous records in the process.

Delighted: Messi's teammate Jordi Alba (right) was pleased with news of the new contract

He won his fourth straight FIFA World Player of the Year award last month following a remarkable 2012 in which he scored 91 goals – smashing the world record of 85 in a calendar year set by Bayern Munich and West Germany striker Gerd Muller in 1972.

While setting that record, Messi became the first man to score five times in a Champions League game as Barca crushed Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 last March.

Three weeks after that he became Barca's all-time leading goalscorer after a brace against Granada moved him on to 233 official goals, one more than the previous record set by Cesar Rodriguez during the 1940s and 50s.

Familiar: The sight of Lionel Messi celebrating another goal for Barcelona has become a familiar one – he scored an all-time record 91 goals in the 2012 calendar year

He has been in similarly stunning form in 2013 and his goal in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Valencia was a league-record 12th consecutive game in which he found the net.

During his time at the Nou Camp, Messi has also helped Barca win a host of silverware, including five Primera Division titles, three Champions Leagues, two Copa del Rey crowns and two FIFA Club World Cups.

Ferdinand calls for new United deal and says he can keep going just like Giggs and Scholes

By
Thom Drake

PUBLISHED:

11:11 GMT, 2 February 2013

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UPDATED:

11:44 GMT, 2 February 2013

Rio Ferdinand has expressed his desire to extend his contract at Manchester United past the end of the season but is not worried that discussions are yet to take place.

Back and knee injuries have plagued the centre-back over the past few seasons, but Ferdinand has managed to reassert himself in the United first-team and wants to carry on going for several more years.

'Manchester United is a great club, the No1, and you would never want to play anywhere else if you can still play for them.'

Longevity: Rio Ferdinand is sure he can continue for many more years

'People were writing me off when I was
out injured and saying my career was coming to an end but I know my body
and was confident I could get through,' he told the Sun.

'United will always be in my blood now.'

A consistent injury-free run
in the Premier League has given Ferdinand the chance to prove to all
his doubters that even at 34, he is worth a new contract.

He missed the 2010 World Cup due to injury, and with the arrival of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones over the past few seasons he was being pushed further down the pecking order.

United: Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have struggled to play together

But Ferdinand has managed to regain both
fitness and form, and has forced himself back into Alex Ferguson's
plans. With his contract finishing in the summer, the England
centre-back is sure that he deserves a new deal.

'I want to be able to contribute properly and be a player they actually need. You can tell if you're not really needed at a club any more. You just know.'

Ferdinand knew that he had more to
offer, and when Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling got long-term injuries,
he was given his chance again.

'I don't expect to be treated any different to the other older players like Giggsy or Scholesy, who normally sign on again at the end of the season.'

Still there: Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have prolonged their careers

If United beat Fulham on Saturday they can stretch their lead to 10 points over rivals Manchester City, who have to get three points against an in-form Liverpool to keep up with the pace.

Ferdinand's presence will also be vital as United come across Real Madrid in the second round of the Champions League, and as they continue their challenge in the latter stages of the FA Cup.